Cantor, who was hired five weeks ago, was fired from his $31,400-a-year post by City Attorney Andrew DeGraffenreidt.

DeGraffenreidt said Cantor failed to fulfill the duties of his job, unfairly objected to performing required tasks and tried to intimidate him through political connections to change his job requirements.

Cantor, a former prosecutor for the Broward County State Attorney`s Office, said DeGraffenreidt`s contentions are ``unjustified.``

``The city attorney and I had conflicts,`` Cantor said. ``He wanted me to do one thing and the Police Department wanted me to do others. I felt my obligation was to the Police Department.``

Police Chief Sam Martin and Assistant Police Chief Leroy Hessler in the last five weeks have asked DeGraffenreidt to change Cantor`s job requirements so he could spend more time on police work.

``I`m not trying to be brutal, I`m trying to run a legal office,`` said DeGraffenreidt. ``It was obvious the situation wasn`t going to work out because he, Mr. Cantor, didn`t want it to work out.``

Police officials, who recommended Cantor be hired, refused to discuss his firing. Hessler, however, in a statement issued from his office, said, ``I am extremely pleased with his (Cantor`s) performance.``

DeGraffenreidt, who was given the authority over the police legal adviser about three months ago by city commissioners, said police officials objected to Cantor prosecuting violations of municipal codes and parking infractions in County Court once a week.

Cantor also failed to show up for several meetings with other city officials and improperly filed cases in County Court, DeGraffenreidt said.